Carl Spain Center names Tryce Prince as new executive director

The Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action at Abilene Christian University has appointed Tryce Prince as its new executive director, marking a leadership transition from founding director Dr. Jerry Taylor.

Tryce Prince

Prince, a 2018 ACU graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, previously served as the center’s founding executive assistant from 2018-2020 and has continued as a consultant managing research projects and programming since then.

The leadership transition was developed collaboratively between Taylor and ACU leadership, as Taylor indicated he felt called “to follow God in a new direction in his life, work, and ministry.”

“From the start, Tryce has played a vital role bringing excellence and integrity. Now as he completes his Ph.D. he is prepared to lead,” Taylor said. “I ask your support in ensuring the Center’s continued impact. Stand with Tryce. Invest in this mission, and help build a stronger future for the church and for the world.”

Prince is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he studies the intersection of race and religious communities. He has co-authored “Religion and Race: A Double-Edged Sword,” which appears in the book “Religion Matters: What Sociology Teaches Us About Religion In Our World.”

During his doctoral studies, Prince has worked with Dr. Michael O. Emerson, known for his book “Divided By Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America.” Prince is also affiliated with the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame for 2024-25.

“We find ourselves in what many consider to be an unprecedented time in our nation’s history,” Prince said. “I believe the Carl Spain Center is uniquely equipped to help meet this need and lead the ACU community and Christian church towards unity.”

Established in 2018, the Carl Spain Center honors the legacy of Carl Spain, an ACU Bible professor who delivered a groundbreaking lecture against racial segregation in 1960. The center conducts research on race and racism in religious institutions while offering programming focused on spiritual formation and racial reconciliation.

Prince, who lives in Chicago with his wife, Erin, and their three daughters, will continue leading the center’s initiatives while completing his doctoral program.

The center is currently seeking support through Abilene Gives campaign to fund future programming and research.